This interactive session is designed to spark candid, peer-led discussion across the issues shaping Australia’s childcare real estate and operations in 2026—policy settings, safety and quality, workforce, approvals, prototype design, lease economics, capital and technology.
Attendees will participate in two 40-minute focused roundtable conversations, each facilitated by a subject-matter expert or experienced industry peer. Each roundtable will be capped to ensure open, practical dialogue. Session topics will be released in advance to support selection and preparation. A five-minute changeover will be provided between the two rotations.
Roundtable 1 – Unlocking Growth: Finance Strategies for Childcare Operators
Facilitated by: George Louca, Director & Owner, 3Lane Finance
Roundtable 2 – Designing Inclusive Outdoor Play spaces
Facilitated by: Lizzie Hazelwood, Design Manager & Senior Landscape Architect, Proludic
Roundtable 3 – Casual Workforce that Works: On-Demand Staffing Models for Quality and Cost Control
Facilitated by: Jessica Buddle, Co-Founder & GM, Z Staffing
Roundtable 4 – The Multi-Site Compliance Gap: Why What Works for One Centre Fails at Ten
Facilitated by: Martin Bing, Founder & CEO, 1Place
Roundtable 5 – Governing for Sustainable Growth: Board, Capital and Risk in Childcare
Facilitated by: Roseanne Healy, Independent Chair, Mayfield Childcare
Roundtable 6 – What Great Looks Like: Aligning Your People, Operations and Financials Around a Purpose That Performs
Facilitated by: Nikki Prendergast, Owner & Managing Director, New Shoots Children’s Centres (NZ)
Roundtable 7 – Transitioning and managing your childcare centre(s) in the cloud: effective systems and reporting
Facilitated by: Matthew Knight, Founder & Director, Hopscotch Accounting
Roundtable 8 – Getting childcare DAs approved faster: a council perspective on de-risking design, traffic and neighbour impacts
Facilitated by: Daniel Milliken, Manager Development Assessments, Northern Beaches Council
Roundtable 9 – Solving the Staff Training Puzzle: Building Quality and Compliance Without the Admin Burden
Facilitated by: Angela Bush, Founder & CEO, ECE Learning Unlimited
Facilitators:
George Louca, Director & Owner, 3Lane Finance
Lizzie Hazelwood, Design Manager & Senior Landscape Architect, Proludic
Jessica Buddle, Co-Founder & GM, Z Staffing
Martin Bing, Founder & CEO, 1Place
Roseanne Healy, Independent Chair, Mayfield Childcare
Matthew Knight, Founder & Director, Hopscotch Accounting
Nikki Prendergast, Owner & Managing Director, New Shoots Children’s Centres (NZ)